With Free Books and Amazing Food, This Connecticut Highway Rest Stop Is My Favorite Road Trip Stop

There is so much to see in that great big world out there, and often, the best attractions are hiding in plain sight. Sometimes, when we veer just a little bit off our destination path, we uncover an unexpected gem that turns out to be an amazing highlight of the journey. My family and I made one such accidental discovery several years ago when our stomachs started to rumble as we drove down Connecticut’s congested Rt 84.

This long stretch of highway is a road that we are very familiar with, as we travel this way about two or three times a year to visit family in New York and Pennsylvania. While my husband can somehow make this drive without stopping, the kids and I always require frequent breaks to stretch our legs, use the restroom, or grab something to eat. Like many travelers, our road trip pit stop on the way home to Massachusetts was always at a stale highway rest area, where we pulled off to scarf down some unhealthy fast food before getting back on the road to beat the impending traffic on the Mass Pike. That is, until we decided to stop in at the Traveler Restaurant, a unique restaurant and bookstore in Union, Connecticut. Since then, it has been one of our favorite parts of our family road trips. 

The Traveler is always a welcome retreat from the busy interstate that lies just beyond its doors. From the minute we pull off 1-84 North at Exit 74 in Union and turn into the restaurant’s parking lot, the stress of a hectic road trip falls to the wayside.

Each time I step inside this cozy building, it feels like I am being welcomed home. Two things immediately strike me. First are the delicious smells of the homemade food wafting in from the kitchen, and second is the sight of all the books. Shelves and shelves of secondhand books are everywhere you look. There is something for everyone, from novels to nonfiction, children’s picture books, and cookbooks. And best of all, many of them are free!

When I first learned that every customer (meaning each and every person in your party) can take home three free books with the purchase of a meal, I couldn’t believe it. Food and books are two of my favorite things in life, so this place was a dream come true.

My family and I have established a routine when visiting The Traveler. Unlike many of the chain restaurants off the interstate, the Traveler is a sit-down establishment. It is therefore important to first get a table before pursuing the bookshelves. This part of the visit often takes me a while because I can never decide what to order. 

You won’t find boxes of chicken and reheated meals at the Traveler. Instead, there is an entire menu filled with amazing homemade dishes that include sandwiches, pasta, turkey dinners, breakfast items, burgers, and even lobster. Many are whimsically named after notable authors or famous books. On my last visit to the Traveler, I opted for the “Moby Dick,” which is a delicious tuna and cheese melt served with fries. The restaurant also serves beer and alcoholic drinks and has a special menu for the little ones. 

The wait for the food is the perfect time to do some shopping. I always find several books of interest. Many of the books are donated, and the selection will forever change as new books roll in. Over the years, I have taken home a few books that have ultimately made it to my favorites list. After I have chosen my three freebies, I usually head downstairs to the “Book Cellar” area, where there are even more shelves of books that can be purchased at a reduced rate. You never know what rare find you will discover down there.

After we pick out our books, my family and I meet back at our table to compare our new treasures and enjoy a peaceful meal. While we eat, I love to watch the birds fly between the feeders that dangle from the trees outside the restaurant’s windows. Then, it is back on the highway to battle the traffic for the rest of the way home. However, this part of the trip always flies by, as my husband jumps behind the wheel and the rest of us bury our noses in our newly discovered books for the remainder of the ride. 

Have you ever eaten at the Traveler Restaurant? Or is there another unusual Connecticut roadside attraction you would like to tell us about? More information about the Traveler can be found on the Traveler Restaurant Facebook page. If you are looking for more good reads, be sure to visit the state's largest bookstore, The Book Barn in Niantic, and take home even more free books at New Haven's Volume Two: A Never Ending Books Collective.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.